New Craft Skill 2: The Beginning

As Q2 begins, I have been researching hard what to learn & hopefully master it...

After about a week of deep research, i have decided to give this a try...

In the European countries, this had gained some popularity over the few months. I'm sure this craft has been around for a while but not as popular...

Since it is new, I can't really get alot of instruction how to make it, I have only photos of the finished products to refer to...but that is good enough as this is a pretty easy craft, once you have mastered the basics...

Here it is! Perler Beads! Perler beads (as known as Hama beads or Nabbi beads) are plastic fusible beads. These colorful beads are usually arranged on plastic pegboards to form patterns and then fused together with a clothes iron. They can also be strung into necklaces, woven into keychains, or even assembled into three-dimensional decors.

Crafting Perler beads is a fun and inexpensive art form that inspires creativity. It can also help young children develop hand-eye coordination skills and learn color names and basic counting. Most impartantly, it teaches kids to be patient & concentrate. One small mistake may require you to re-do the whole thing!

Well, at first, I was afraid to pick up this craft as I was sure if the kids can actually have the patience & focus to complete the designs that they love, but I soon realised that if the kids love the design, they will definitely able to really complete it!

Here is what I first experimented, with the help of some photos...

Then, I started to experiment with more designs...

Ok, this craft is extremely addictive! You will see why I said so...LOL

New Craft Skill 1: The Journey Continues...

After few rounds of experimenting, I think I can safely say I'm at intermediate-advance level for this craft...

To follow my progress, please read here & here...

These are what I made so far...using a little tweaking here & there...

 And, as I continue to work on this craft, I have more items by the time I'm ready to teach! :)

I know you might say it is also available on youtube, but my version is the improvised & simplified version. The princesses also have bigger head than their body. Just the way I like it! :)

New Craft Skill 1: The Journey

Following my blog on me picking up a new skill (read here), I am proud to say that Picking up new skill is seriously not as difficult as I thought. All we need is a little determination & alot of experiementation & trial & error...

Here's what I've made so far, with a little 'motivational push' from my sons...

After Constantine presented the Party Packs & presents to his classmates (blog available here), one of his classmates asked him whether he knew how to make Starburst bracelet. The poor boy is so clueless, he came back to me with that challenge. So, I did some research & watched some YouTube video, & after a few rounds of trial & errors, I managed to make it. Not one, not 2, but 12! All for you know who...Constantine said he wanted to give it to his classmates as Chinese New Year gift...a little show off, don't u think so?

This is what I made...

Anyway, I told him that I would be best if he is the one making it...so, I bought him his own Rainbow Loom set with all the colours that he wanted. He has been doing it ever since then & so far is still making bracelets. 

Here's what he has made for himself so far...

This is what he made for me & Christopher...

Then, Christopher also wanted a set of his own, so I have to buy a set for him too, but his is pretty basic as he only wants his favourite coloured bands: Red, Yellow & Orange. Yea, his Loom Tool Box only has that few colors, both opaque & jelly ones...lol

As he is still very unsure how to make it (i think he is just not into Rainbow Loom...lol) he didn't really make alot of stuffs. He only completed 2 bracelets so far...1 for himself (i helped to loop the bands) & 1 for his daddy (at least he is putting efforts into completing it himself). The Red 1 is his & the golden 1 is daddy's...

Then, I also made a few bracelets for myself & the kids (more of an experiment)...

After that, all requests for their friends' presents suddenly become a 'must' to include Rainbow Loom...sigh...

So, here is what I've made so far...

Alphabet Loom Bag Tag for Christopher's classmate...can you see the alphabet 'Hanz'? :)

Loom Rabbit Charm/Keychain for Constantine's classmate...i made 1 similar 1 in Grey color for Christopher's classmate...

Loom Flower Bracelet for Constantine's classmate...

And also some bracelets for Christopher's classmates similar to what I've made for him but in different colours...

Well, I'm sure there will be more! :)

New Craft Skill 1 - the Beginning

Last Year, I made a resolution to pick up a new skill & master it every quarter.

Starting in January, I have started to pick up Rainbow Loom. I know, I know, you may say that the craze is over. I won't deny it. But what I am doing is not the bracelets, but other things.

I began the journey with Jelly Bands. Not my favorite type of bands though...the 1st item I made was this...it is done using the same method as crochet, only thing is we are using rubber bands instead of yarns...

1) 3D Star keychains...these are for my son's party pack for his classmates...

2) This is for one of his class mates that will be celebrating his birthday 2 days after my son...his name is Yuya, so I made an alphabet Y plus a star. I attached it to the crocheted car keychain to make it more personalized.

3) This is for his classmate that will be celebrating his birthday 3 days after his...he has Y & J in his name, hence the alphabets...& I attached it to the crochet car keychain as well.

Hm...not bad for a start...will be experimenting more items! Stay tuned!

New Year, New Me...

January is almost over & I realised that I have not written a single blog for the whole month! The last post was written on eve of new year & by the time I finished, it was new year...lol

Well, 2015 has been good so far...most of the efforts I put in last year has been moving according to the direction that I have planned out. At one point, it was so demotivating, but now it is like...I-can-see-some-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel kind of feeling...lol

Well, for sure, Designed With Passion is expanding. I setup the company in November 2014, wanted to use the name Designed With Passion, but was rejected...twice...told my company secretary that I insisted to use the name...after a few rounds of ding-dongs, & almost a week after, I was allowed to register the name, but with one condition...the name can not be just Designed With Passion alone...so, we finally settled with Designed With Passion Handicraft. At that point of time, I was a little disappointed as what I am doing is not exactly handicraft. I am very specific! I am only crocheting! LOL

It never cross my mind that all things happen for a reason, but now that I think of it, seriously, I was amazed how it has evolved.

In December, one of the reputable enrichment malls that I have been eyeing for, finally got in touch. I have been trying to get into that mall so that i can ask for a space to conduct crochet classes permanently, but to no avail. How I finally got in touch? A friend of a friend joined the marketing team of the mall & viola! Now we became friends...

Anyway, after a few rounds of discussion with the friend of my friend (lets call her E) & E's boss B, we finally got to go in, as a temporary service provider. What are we doing? Well, this is funny...we are providing handicraft activities to kids age 3 to 12 every Sunday! So, my company name fits in just right, right? So, conclusion is, we never know what arrangement the universe is prep-ing us...

So, to cut the story short, this few weeks have been extremely busy for me. Prep-ing the proposal for Q1, buying supplies, experimenting the activities to see how long it take, etc etc etc. wonderful but tiring. Not that I am complaining...it was fun, but at the same time nervous. I mean i love crafts, but to teach as a full time instructor...it is a new experience for me...now, my full time job is no longer Crochet, but as a Craft Instructor...cool huh?

It has been 2 Sundays since i started conducting the activities. This week will be my 3rd Sunday. Yesterday, we have just been confirmed as a permanent tenant & will be given a space in the enrichment mall..FINALLY! Plus, was told that we will be the anchor tenant for that particular program that they are promoting so we were invited to sit in to discuss on the fixture & all...i was like...WOW!

The space will be ready in March. Then, we will be able to conduct craft classes everyday at a fixed schedule. But, until then, we will be conducting craft activties every Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

What is next for me? Well, i need to think of a name for my craft space. Still can't decide what name to use as the logo. I have to admit I am not creative in terms of naming anything....that's why I am not able to get any Marketing jobs...lol then I need to come up with a tag line for the brand name. The tag line has to associate with my company name.

Next, i will need to re-visit my vision & mission of the company. 

Then, i need to source for more instructors & more craft activities (can't be doing everything on my own, right?)

So for now, this is what's happening...

Oh, I will also be posting the past activities in this blog so that you can have an idea what we do...:)

I have also registered a website: www.designedwithpassion.net

Sooner or later, I will be transferring everything to my own website, as soon as I figure out how! LOL

So, stay tuned!